2 weeks ago
The Celtic Challenge is to beryllium played connected a location and distant ground successful an expanded format successful nan 2024-25 season.
It intends nan title will beryllium played by nan six teams from Ireland, Scotland and Wales complete 10 rounds, starting successful December.
The tourney involving 2 teams from each federation will reason successful March, earlier nan Women's Six Nations, pinch nan victor based connected last convention standings.
Expanding nan Celtic Challenge is seen arsenic different measurement successful nan maturation of nan women's crippled arsenic good arsenic providing subordinate improvement earlier nan 2025 World Cup.
World Rugby said nan first women's cross-border nine title had seen "impressive gains" this play pinch accrued attendances, broadcast agreements and helped "bridge nan gap" betwixt home and Test rugby successful nan 3 nations.
Launched successful 2022, nan Celtic Challenge doubled successful size this season, from 3 to six teams, which included nan preamble of teams from Scotland.
Brython Thunder and Gwalia Lightning correspond Wales. Ireland person Irish Wolfhounds and Clovers pinch Scotland fielding Edinburgh and Glasgow Warriors.
This year's tourney was won by Wolfhounds, pinch Edinburgh second, while 68 players went connected to characteristic successful nan Six Nations, including 8 making their Test debuts.
Nigel Walker, Welsh Rugby Union’s executive head of rugby, added he thought nan title had conscionable "scratched nan surface" of its potential.
“We are highly eager astir nan Celtic Challenge," he said.
"It has already proved its worth from a capacity constituent of position and players and coaches will spot it arsenic a pivotal measurement successful nan pathway to master and world recognition.
“It is simply a cardinal portion of [our] strategy for nan women’s crippled and has already seen nan likes of Gwennan Hopkins, Sian Jones, Molly Reardon, Catherine Richards and Mollie Wilkinson play successful nan tourney and past make their Wales debuts successful nan Six Nations."
Irish Rugby’s caput of women's capacity Gillian McDarby said nan tourney is "integral" to increasing nan crippled successful Ireland and ensuring a competitory nationalist team
Gemma Fay, Scottish Rugby's caput of women strategy added: “The 2023-24 Celtic Challenge has been successful for Scottish Rugby successful supporting america to supply different measurement successful our pipeline to world rugby successful Scotland, including Alex Stewart who earned her first cap.
“The description of nan title this play has besides fixed america beardown benchmarks to activity from some connected and disconnected nan transportation – from results, subordinate development, media to spectators – and we look guardant to exploring really we tin further support this for adjacent season.”
